Trash disposal plant



March 22, 1932.

J. F. COLEMAN TRASH DISPOSAL PLANT 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 11, 1928 March 22, 1932. 1. COLEMAN TRASH DISPOSAL PLANT Filed Jun ll, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 vente@ :john I.' Co/Zenaa',

March 22, 1932. J. F. COLEMAN TRAS DSPOSAL PLANT 3 sheets-Sheet s Filed June ll. 1928 Patented Mar. 22, 1932 .UNITEDSTATes PATENT oiFl-ICE n JOHN' F. COLEMAN, 0F SHARON, MASSACHSETTS; ALI-CE M. COLEMAN, EXECUTRX 0F SAID.TOHN F. COLEMAN, DEOEASED, ASSIGNOR TO COLEMAN BROTHERS, INC., VOFl BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A, CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS TRASH DISPOSAL PLANT Appuctin mea June 11,

This invention relates to apparatus for the handling and sorting of refuse materials (excluding garbage) such as are collected in large cities. l Y n Refuse of'this characterincludes (1) line materials such as dirt and ashes, suitable for use in filling and grading work; (2) marketable materials such as some metals, glass,

., paper, rags, etc., and (3) worthless materials i and trash which may largely be disposed of by incineration, providing steam` for power purposes. Y Itis the object ofthe present invention to devise a plant so arranged as to facilitate the eilicient separation of the refuse-into the three above mentioned classifications.

Inorder that the invention may be readily understood, reference is'had to the accompanying drawings forming vpart of this specification, and in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the essential features of a plant constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being illustrated in section; l Y Y Fig. 2 is a' plan view of the same, kparts also being shown in section; y Y

Fig.l 3 is a sectional elevation, substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a part of the separating mechanism.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the improved plant comprises a suitable enclosure 1 having a roof 2, this roof preferably being extended as shown at 2a in Fig. l, so as to form a shed covering portions of the apparatus outside of the enclosure.

Just outside the enclosure is provided an elevated platform 3, best shown in Fig. 3, on to which the trucks Vor wagons loaded with trash are driven by means of an inclined runway (not shown). At the edge ofthis platform is provided a stop rail 4, so that the vehicles can be backed against this stop rail in position to be dumped.

Extending downwardly from this stop rail is an inclined grid or sieve designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 5, and formed of a series of spaced parallel bars. As shown, this grid is preferably set 192s. seriai No. 284,456.

at an angle of approximately 30 to 40and the material dumped from the truck or wagons tends to ilow by gravity down this grid.

Owing to the nature yof the material `being-handled, however, llf'lind it desirable to provide means in addition to gravity for causing the material .to move along the grid and for agitating such material so as to separate or sift out the Vineportions, suitable for filling or grading use.V This means consists of a series of groups of fingers 'mounted on cross vbars or slats 7 (see Fig.v 4)k secured toy a pair of sprocket chains 8 passing over sprocket wheels 9, mounted upon upperand lower shafts 10. These elements constitute what I have called an endless carrier, and this carrier is yso arranged thatv its upper run extends parallel with and just beneath the grid 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, withthe fingers 6 Iprojecting up through the spaces between the bars in such a manner as to engage the material resting on the grid.

The carrier is driven by suitable means such asa sprocket 11 secured to the upper shaft 10 and caused to rotate by means of a chain '12' operatively associated with an electric-or other suitable motor 13. It'will be observed that the direction of drive is such that the upper run of the carrier moves downwardly along the grid, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 8, thus aiding gravity in causing the material to progress Vdownwardly over the grid. g

Adjacent the bottom of the grid'I pro? vide Y a transversely extending troughl or chamber 14 in ywhich is mounted a suitable endless conveyor 16, preferably havingl projecting fingers 17 orthe like. This conveyor is supported at one endon sprocket wheels 18 and comprises Aa horizontal portion ex tending from this end for a. distance vequal to the width of the grid.v The conveyor-'then passes around guide sprocketsy 19 and extends upwardly 'over guide sprockets 2'() around l another end sprocket 21, the` portion between thersprocketsQO and l21 being .alsohorizontal. This conveyor isdriven motor (not shown);

lby any suitable i `The trough or chamberl14 inwhichthe 1 lower horizontal run 'of the conveyor is housed is provided with a sectional cover preferably comprising a series of independent removable boards 15. The purpose of this cover is to prevent the conveyor from becoming` clogged yby the `material being delivered onto it toorapidly. nbpena'tion, one or more of the boards 15 is removed and the coarse material or oversize from the grid through the opening or openings thus formed, it being understood.thatan attendant stands upon or near the cover boards 15 and feeds the material througlrth-e-openings by means of a pitchfork or other suitable implement.

,It will .be Vobserved 1th-atthe1width .of the grid-issubstantiallythesame as' that of the platform .18 and is preferably at least Aasgreat as .twice the width of `the wagons or trucks being ldumped .Isothat a :plurality of these vehicles-can be driven side by side ont-o `the platform .and can i be dumped alternatively atl opposite. sides; of thergrid, thusgivin1g `the attendant an'opportunityto dispose of one load beforeanother load is delivered. Room is thusprovided in `which morethan oneA attendant can lvWork at a time, if desired. .The materials j fed through the openings `in fthe cover l5 on `tothe conveyor 16ar-e carried by theilatter upto Aandzalong a sorting-or pickingl table 22. .By reference toFig. 2,'it willbe seen that sortingfbins 23 are preferably arranged on each side ofthe conveyor above thisftabl'e, andra space isprovided b etween th-esebins andthe conveyor in which one ormore .attendantsmay stand and .pick out and sort1 the marketable materials as they travel along --the conveyor. The materials thus tpicked out arethrown into the respective sorting 'bins.

.The materials `remaining on .the conveyor after pickingand sorting fallifrom the conveyor on tto. the chute :25, land .are Vdelivered thence onto .a platfornr supported on a suitable-furnace 28. Feed holes 27. areprovided inthe topl Wall ofthe furnace. atveach sideA ofthe platform. 26, andin operation ,one or more attendants will standpon this platform and Vwith 4a pitchfork: or other suitable implement `will feed .the `material down through thef holes 27 into the furnace, itfbeing understood, yof course, Ythat `unusually large pieces of yan vincombustible character will 'be pushed aside.

.Mounted in such-a ;position as .to'be eX- posed to the heat-of the furnace .is a steam boiler29, andthe products of combustion finally escape-through the stackO. Steam from this'boilermay beemployed tordrive a generating unit to furnish electric current for supplying l.the motors necessary for OperatingV the several carriers andconveyors.

' Access to the sorting table 22is afforded', by

suitablefsteps or laddersLQf. Y Y

In orderto ycollectthe material,suitable[for haveprovided afplant soarrangetlitha-ttrash may l be I readily separated fthe i portion suitable for lilling use being stored in bins; the

marlretab'le' portions being sorted and collected in bins, and the worthless portions being fed to a furnace, and it is thought that the many advantages of my invention fwillrbe readily appreciated by 'those 'familiar with the problem to which itgrelateS. l

What I claim is 1. A trash 4disposal plantvcomprising an elevated yloading platform,-transversely eX- tended to accommodate side by sideaplurality of loading units, va stationary grid transversely commensurate with `the lplatform; a conveyor for oversize extending transversely of the lower edge of the grid, a platform adapted to sustain operatives, betweensaid grid and vconveyor and comprising removable sections overlying the yconveyor, said sections being adapted to control the supply of oversize-tothe conveyor.

2. A tra-sh disposal plant comprising 1an elevated loading platform, transversely extended .to accommodate side by side a plurality of loading units, stationary downwardly inclinedfgrid transversely commensurate with thelplatformuandendles means associated with saidlgridfor agitating material dumped thereon and for facilitating movement yof the material along the4 grid; a conveyor for oversizeextending transversely of thelower'edge of the grid, a platform adapted/to sustain operatives, between said grid and conveyor and comprising removable sections overlying the conveyor, said sections being adapted to control the supply of oversize totheconveyor. Y

In testimony whereoffI affix my signature.

JOHN F, CGLEMAN.

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